The premiership of Lee Kuan Yew, which lasted over three decades from 5 June 1959 to 28 November 1990, was a dynamic ...

Toh Chin Chye (Dr) (b. 10 December 1921, Batu Gajah, Perak–3 February 2012, Singapore) was the founding chairman of the People’s Action Party (PAP) and served as Singapore’s deputy prime minister from 1959 to 1968. Besides his science and technology ministerial portfolio (1968–75), Toh was also the chairman of Singapore Polytechnic and vice-chancellor of the University of Singapore.

Early life and educationToh received his early education in Malaya – first at St George’s School in Taiping, and then Anglo-Chinese School in Ipoh. In 1946 he graduated with a first-class diploma in Science from Raffles College in Singapore. He enrolled at the National Institute for Medical Research, London, in 1949 for his doctorate in physiology and completed it in 1953.1 As a student in London, Toh became the chairman of the Malayan Forum, a student body in London that discussed Malayan current events and political affairs.2 He returned to Singapore in 1953 and joined the University of Malaya as a lecturer.3

Political career and contributions to public serviceToh, together with 13 others including Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee and S. Rajaratnam, formed the PAP in 1954 with him as the party’s founding chairman.4 Toh had initiated the idea to turn what was then a clandestine political discussion group that met in the basement of Lee’s home into an open and legal political party.5 As chairman, Toh played a pivotal role in holding the party together in the face of infighting and political turmoil during the period leading up to Singapore’s merger with the Federation of Malaya and the eventual independence of Singapore.6

In the 1959 Legislative Assembly general election, Toh was elected as the assemblyman for the Rochore (now Rochor) constituency.7 When Singapore attained self-government in 1959, Toh led a committee to design the state crest, state anthem and state flag, which were unveiled on 3 December that year at City Hall.8 Toh had helped to ensure that the flag was a unique and inclusive symbol that embodied values cherished by all Singaporeans.9

Toh served as the deputy prime minister from 1959 until 1968 when he stepped down in order to concentrate on his new appointment as vice-chancellor of the University of Singapore (now National University of Singapore). He remained in the cabinet with a new portfolio as the minister for science and technology from 1968 until 1975.10 In addition to his ministerial portfolio, Toh was also the chairman of Singapore Polytechnic from 1959 to 1975.11

Toh wanted to gear university education towards the needs of national development. As the vice-chancellor from 1968 to 1975, he was instrumental in establishing the faculties of engineering and architecture and he introduced new courses in business subjects to support Singapore’s industrialisation efforts taking place at the time.12 Toh also prompted the move of the university from Bukit Timah to Kent Ridge and initiated the setting up of the National University Hospital.13

On 2 June 1975, Toh was appointed as the minister for health.14 During his term, Toh oversaw the strengthening of specialist care in government hospitals and the establishment of the Home Nursing Foundation to provide home-based care for bedridden elderly.15

Toh stepped down from this post in 1981 and became a backbencher in Parliament.16 As a backbencher, he was noted for his outspoken views on various government policies such as the Medisave scheme and the age limit on withdrawals from the Central Provident Fund.17

Toh retired from politics in 1988.18 As a tribute to his 29 years of service as the member of Parliament for Rochore, the Rochore Citizens’ Consultative Committee set up the Toh Chin Chye Benevolent Fund for the elderly.19

In 1990, he was awarded the Order of Nila Utama (First Class) in recognition of his contributions to Singapore in the critical years before and during merger with Malaysia.20

In 2001, the National University of Singapore launched the Toh Chin Chye Professorship in Molecular Biology to honour him.21

The information in this article is valid as at2012 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.